Elara's POV

The morning sun, strained through the corridor's stained glass, threw colored patterns on the floor. I walked toward the washroom, my hands gripping the cold stone walls.

Kaelen had just returned to our chamber to change his clothes. The moment he walked past me, a wave of nausea hit my stomach. The scent of a mate is supposed to bring peace to a werewolf's soul. But Kaelen smelled entirely of Selena's sickly sweet black roses. The mingling of his pine scent and her cloying perfume was a violation, an offense against the natural order. My inner wolf scratched violently at the walls of my mind, rejecting the smell.

I rushed into the washroom and my legs gave out from under me. I dry-heaved over the wooden bucket, my body shaking with violent, uncontrollable tremors.

And then I smelled it. Beneath the wilted flowers and medicinal herbs in the discarded linen basket, a faint, almost imperceptible odor clung to a piece of cloth. As a healer, I recognized it instantly. The unique hormonal scent a female wolf emits only in the very early stages of pregnancy.

Selena was carrying my mate's pup.

My breath hitched. A cold sweat broke out on my forehead.

Footsteps echoed behind me. Kaelen rushed into the washroom, his face pale with panic. He lunged from behind me, his arms a cage, his chin digging into the hollow of my shoulder. "Elara! What is wrong?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine fear.

The moment his skin touched mine, a spark of electricity shot up my spine. It was the physical surge of the mate bond, a cruel biological reaction I could not stop. But the smell of the Beta on his skin made my stomach turn again. I pushed him away with all my strength.

"Do not touch me," I gasped, crawling backward on the cold tiles.

Kaelen looked hurt. He was an Alpha with a severe obsession with cleanliness. He hated dirt and mess, but he completely ignored the dirty bucket next to me. He reached out and pulled me tightly against his chest, his grip bruising and desperate. "I am so sorry, my sweet girl," he murmured into my hair. "I have neglected you. The Pack duties have been endless, and the border patrols have drained me."

I stared blindly over his shoulder, my face completely blank. He was lying to my face. His endless duties were just endless nights in another woman's bed.

He cupped my face in his large, warm hands, his thumbs gently wiping the sweat from my cheeks. "I promise to put down all my duties as Alpha tomorrow," he said softly. "Tomorrow is your birth festival. I will spend the entire day only with you."

He lifted me into his arms and carried me back to our massive bedroom. He set me down on the edge of the bed and walked to the oak wardrobe. He pulled out a stunning, deep red silk dress. "Let me help you dress," he offered, reaching for the ties of my nightgown.

I grabbed his wrists, stopping him. "I can do it myself," I said quietly. It was the first time I had ever refused his help since I lost my sight.

Kaelen frowned, a flash of confusion crossing his handsome face. But he stepped back and let me pull the silk dress over my head. I lay back against the pillows. Kaelen pulled the heavy velvet blanket over my body, tucking the edges in so I would not be cold. He looked at me with such deep, tender affection that a dry, mirthless laugh almost escaped my lips at the sheer theatricality of it all.

I closed my eyes, pretending to fall asleep.

The room was perfectly quiet. Because our souls were tied by the Moon Goddess, my senses could feel the shift in his energy-a faint, buzzing vibration in the air as he opened his Mind-Link. Because I was a White Wolf, a rare descendant of the Moon Goddess, my senses were sharper than any normal wolf's. I felt, rather than heard, the mental echo leaking from his consciousness.

Kaelen, you ruined my favorite dress last night, Selena's voice whined in his head. Come to the guest room and make it up to me.

Kaelen remained by my bed, as still as a statue. He leaned down and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to my forehead. He stroked my cheek one last time. Then, he turned around and walked out of the room without looking back. He left his blind mate alone to go satisfy his pregnant mistress.

I opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling. Any love I had left for him had just turned to ash.

Elara's POV

The next morning, the smell of roasted meat filled our chamber. Kaelen had woken up before dawn to cook for me. He placed a silver tray on the table, loaded with roasted venison and sweet berry pastries. He cut the meat into tiny pieces, just the way he had done for the past three years.

He picked up a piece with his silver fork and brought it to my lips. "Open up, my love," Kaelen coaxed gently.

I sat still, staring into the darkness of my act. Across the table, Selena let out a loud, dramatic sigh. She crossed her arms and pouted, making sure Kaelen noticed her displeasure. She hated that the Alpha was serving a useless, blind woman.

Kaelen's eyes darted toward Selena. I felt the subtle shift in the air as his mind reached for hers. My White Wolf senses allowed me to feel the private current of their Mind-Link, a secret I had always kept from him.

Do not be angry, my beautiful Beta, I felt Kaelen's mental voice soothe her. I will give you the eastern hunting grounds as compensation.

Selena's pout turned into a triumphant smirk. She stood up from her chair, smoothing down her tight dress. As she walked past Kaelen, she deliberately drew her long, manicured fingernails slowly across his thigh. Kaelen's breath hitched, and his eyes darkened with lust.

I pretended I saw nothing. I turned my head away from the fork he was still holding. "I am not hungry for meat," I said flatly. I picked up my own silver fork and blindly poked at a pastry, eating it in silence.

By nightfall, Kaelen took me to the river that flowed through our territory. He had rented a massive royal ferry for my birth festival. The wooden deck was glowing with the light of blue magic crystals. Noble wolves from our pack were gathered, drinking wine and laughing.

Kaelen held my hand tightly, leading me to the front of the ship. "Do you remember this place, Elara?" he asked, his voice thick with emotion.

I looked down at the wooden planks. The entire deck was covered in thick layers of black rose petals. It was the flower I was allergic to, but it was Selena's absolute favorite.

"This is where I marked you," Kaelen whispered, pulling me against his chest. Marking was the ultimate claim, the moment he sealed our souls by sinking his fangs into my neck. Kaelen buried his face in my neck, right over the scar of his bite. I felt a warm tear drop onto my skin. He was actually crying, moved by his own romantic memories.

I felt nothing but disgust.

Suddenly, the crowd went quiet. Selena walked onto the deck, wearing a scandalous, high-end silk gown that left nothing to the imagination. She walked straight up to Kaelen and ignored everyone else. She grabbed his free hand and intertwined her fingers with his.

"It is time for the show, Alpha," she announced loudly. She started counting down from ten. When she reached one, a massive explosion echoed in the night sky. The magic crystals shot beams of light into the clouds. Fireworks exploded in brilliant shades of red and gold.

I looked up at the sky. Every single firework burst into the shape of a coiled snake. It was the family crest of Selena's bloodline. He was so utterly enthralled by her that he had allowed her to hijack my own birth festival right before my eyes.

The noble wolves gasped and began whispering among themselves. Kaelen looked at the sky, his face turning pale. A pack messenger suddenly ran up to him, bowing low. "Alpha, there is an emergency," the messenger lied, reciting a script Kaelen had clearly prepared. "The border defense needs your immediate command."

Kaelen turned to me, his face a mask of fake regret. "I am so sorry, Elara. The Pack needs me," he said quickly. He let go of my hand and called for a low-ranking Omega maid. "Take care of the Luna," he ordered the frightened girl. Without waiting for my answer, he turned and walked quickly toward the lower cabins. Selena followed right behind him, her hips swaying.

I stood under the exploding fireworks of my rival's family. I told the Omega maid I needed to rest and sent her away. Then I turned, and followed that cloying scent of black roses down the dark stairs, a scent that now seemed to cling to the wooden handrails like a greasy film.